Week beginning 1st June 2009

We hear that Jenny's 60th birthday do went very well. Shame we couldn't pop over for it. We hope the present arrives soon.

We seem to have been adopted by a lovely little two year old who has taken kindly to us. She runs and greets us, throws her arms around us, walks to the market with us, comes in our house on her own and goes through all the drawers and cupboards. Her name is Antonia and she is a real character. (see photo)

Simbu held its annual flower show which was a great event - a bit like the Wakering Fair. The flowers were wonderful and there was a full array of vegetables and fruit. We even bought rhubarb and made rhubarb crumble. There was a beauty contest (see photo) and other arena events. PNG has a 'happy gardener' on the TV and he was in attendance which brought out the crowds. We bought soap and aloe vera moisturiser - all home made.

On Thursday some ex-VSOs phoned to say they were coming to Kundiawa, before climbing Mt Wilhelm, at the weekend and they wondered whether we want anything brought up. We hardly knew them but thanked them and asked if they wanted to stay for a meal or stay over. We chatted and then decided Mike would like to climb the mountain with them. We packed, got organised and waited on Friday for them to pick us up. A few texts later and they'd got held up behind a lorry stuck in the mud. Then their car broke down. By then it was pouring with rain and the road to the mountain is terrible without rain. They decided to stay over with us so we made a meal, sorted out beds etc. After the game of Scrabble Sam went to go to the loo and passed out. He came round but a terrible shade of yellow. He went to the loo and then fainted again. We were all really worried about him. We all went to bed and the rain continued all night.

On Saturday, they were still up for it despite the continuing rain, though we had already decided that we wouldn't risk going
a) because there was a strong possibility of breaking down
b) because there was a strong possibility of getting stuck in mud
c) because there was a strong possibility that we wouldn't be able to do the first half of the climb on until Sunday
d) because there was a strong possibility that if we didn't get to the lake (half-way up) on Saturday, then we wouldn't get back to Kundiawa for Monday's commitments
e) Because there was a strong possibility that Sam would be really ill half-way up a mountain

Anyway they went ahead and they didn't break down, they didn't really get stuck, they climbed up to the lake on Saturday, started the final ascent at 2.00 a.m. Sunday morning, arrived at the summit (4,500km), Sam was fine, got back down in the early evening, left for Kundiawa at 6.00 Monday morning and were back here by 9.30 a.m. So we could have gone in the end, but we're not so foolhardy and gung-ho like these youngsters.
When they arrived back they left us with their remaining food supplies - olives, cheese, wine, ritz crackers etc. All luxuries from the big city. Unfortunately they finished the chocolate.

Well we enjoyed sleeping in a comfortable bed and having a lie-in on Sunday morning.

Oh well - one day we'll climb the mountain.

Two young men were walking back from their church with guitars and we got talking, resulting in them coming round to have a jamming session with Mike. They had lovely voices and played their guitars while Mike improvised on the keyboard. They all enjoyed it and are coming again next week.

PNG have a national holiday for the Queen's birthday. It was to be on Monday but the previous Tuesday evening there was a notice in all the schools' pigeon holes saying that the holiday had been changed to Thursday and boarding students were to go home Wednesday lunchtime. As many schools are rural they didn't get the message until they had already had Monday off so they ended up taking Monday and Thursday for the Queen's birthday. P.S don't tell Liz - she doesn't know yet!

Friday is a big occasion. It is the launch of the 10 year Education plan for Simbu. The problem is the plan goes from 2005-2015. It has been delayed being launched as they had no money to organise an official launch party. No one has mentioned that it is 4 years into the plan. We have official invites. It will be many long, grand speeches but I think there will be some traditional dancers too. Update: Heard 4.30pm the day before the grand launch that it is postponed even though all schools closed and the programme has been sent out. Our school visit was cancelled because of the launch - in fact our whole week's schedule was upset. We only heard about the postponement when one of the volunteers bumped into someone on the way home who told him - beggars belief!

We had a little bit of luxury on Wednesday when, unexpectedly, we were asked to accompany Alfred, a new Indian volunteer, to Goroka on a PMV, from where we were to put him on another PMV to Madang. So once we'd deposited Alfred, we made our way to the Bird if Paradise hotel (where we stayed for a couple of days at Easter) and had breakfast and coffee/tea. Mike had poached eggs and bacon on muffin with hollandaise sauce - yum, Alison had toast and preserves. Whilst in Goroka we also bought some decent cheese and some reef fish steaks. Nice.

Alison has managed to make Pizza; Shepherd's Pie with a topping of sweet potato (kaikai); Vegetable tempura; Satay chicken; Spanish Omelette. Not bad eh?

We also had the luxury of Fray Bentos Steak & Kidney pies (courtesy of Bob & Sue), followed by Barcardi and Coke and a Baileys (courtesy of Bob & Sue)

Love Alison & Mike